The Arnolds Cove Breakwater Project

Jamie Hookey

Abstract

ABSTRACT
Arnolds Cove is a small community located on the isthmus of the Avalon Peninsula in Newfoundland. It had its beginning in the early 1800s as a fishing community. The turn of the century brought the Newfoundland railway located only 3 miles from Arnolds Cove bringing economic growth through employment and trade. The resettlement of isolated communities brought 122 families to Arnolds Cove and further economic growth. The moratorium in 1992 slowed the growth of most outport communities around Newfoundland. However, with close proximity to the Bull Arm construction site, the North Atlantic Refining Ltd. Oil refinery and the Newfoundland Transshipment terminal, Arnolds Cove has revived its future for many years to come.
Since the moratorium on the cod fishery, the types of watercraft that use the wharf in Arnolds Cove have changed. There are more pleasure craft and larger fishing vessels than before. With the changing climate there are now larger storms such as Hurricane Igor and greater need to protect the wharf from harsh wave action and storm undertow conditions.
To protect the wharf from these elements the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Small Craft Harbours Branch (DFO SCH) requested to construct a Rubble Mound Breakwater. This Breakwater is to protect the existing wharf infrastructure and provide safe access to the wharf and meet operations requirements of facility users. This is to comply with DFO SCHs mandate to keep harbours critical to the fishing industry open and in good repair.
The following paper will highlight the economic advantages of the breakwater, a brief project description, challenges presented with construction and environmental implications